Latest Repairs and Minor Upgrades

[The Mindless Philosopher]

My 2001 Boss Hoss ZZ4 trike (I am owner #8) sat for a little over a year after the last few problems. They were not complex issues. I was just too frustrated to deal with them given the steady stream of problems I've had since I bought the trike in December 2014. The last round occurred at the hottest possible time of the year (117F+). So, I let it rot in the garage for a while. <== Figure of speech. I still tended the Hoss to keep it from actually rotting.

Now that it's road worthy again, here is a list of repairs and (extremely minor) upgrades I've made in the past 2 months toward getting it ready again:

- Replaced the body tilt hinges (the originals broke in half from age/metal fatigue and less than optimal design); The new ones are heavier duty and hand-made from stainless steel
- Installed gas prop struts for the fiberglass tilt body (no more prop stick in the way and a cord to limit tilt body travel when lifted!)
- Installed a stopper for the fuel tank to keep it from dropping too low on the frame (I had rigged up a quick release tilt system back in 2015); No more smashing the valve cover breather when I'm not careful lowering the tank
- Installed metal wire lanyards for the main tank's quick-release ball pins, to keep them attached to the frame when I pull them out
- Installed new LED rear turn signals; The last ones literally rotted from the inside out
- Replaced the windshield/windscreen with a taller version of the original
- Replaced the tachometer light
- Removed a broken alternator bracket bolt from the engine block
- Repaired the broken alternator bracket using a piece cut from a donor bracket (some cutting, drilling, and welding involved)
- Replaced the alternator belt
- Replaced the alternator (bent pulley, wouldn't charge properly, and it fried the wire)
- Repaired the fried alternator wire
- Installed a 180F thermostat (didn't have a thermostat)
- Adjusted torque on the front axle and pinch bolt
- Installed plastic wire conduit in as many areas as was feasible
- Removed the fuel filter from the carburetor (inline filter is installed).
- Lubricated the throttle cable (Teflon dry lube)
- Lubricated the speedometer cable (liquid graphite lube)
- Replaced the defective Chinese LED license plate frame with third brake light (I had replaced the original frame a year ago)
- Replaced a broken radiator fan Zip-Tie style fastener
- Began modifying the front end of the seat pan (work in progress)
- Installed ceramic Dyna balance beads in the front tire
- Inflated the front tire to maximum cold pressure to avoid tread cupping

I think that's it. I might have left out a detail or two.

No photo's to offer. My camera is old. It finally kicked the bucket.